Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-01-31


does the shoe pinch you and Mary"
"Why, father, it don't pinch,
said Tom, "only you know we have
got several children, and others may
come. and John, your namesake,
must go to school this next year. 1t
won't do not to school him, for he is
smart, just like you, father, and
teacher says he must go to the acad-
envy at Meriden, and Maria, mothers
namesake, is just as pretty as she
was, and she needs schooling, and
other things, YOU know
He did not dare to say piano"
for fear his father might object. Yet
the old mans fondness for hymns
would have carried the day upon that
point. But the references to himself
and wife pleased him highly, as
Thomas Harrison knew they would
do, and he thawed perceptibly as he
said -
"1es, yes, l know you've got a
mighty smart lot of chicks coming on
smarter than the old folks, do think,
but Mari isn't any prettier than her
grandma was-p'r'aps not nigh on as
pretty. Yes, yes, think lots of my
grandchildren, and I'll think about
this matter. I'll do what's right,
Tom. You are my only son-how |
do remember you as baby! Your
mother sot by you more than by her
daughter. | do believe. Well I'll
see what I'll do tomorrow. What
do they say in the village about this
Carlisle as speaker of the house? l
believe he is the right man in the
right place, and he will fix this reve-
nue. business straight, l bet" SO
the father and son talked politics am
icably and both slept ''the sleep of
the just" that night.
Next morning the old man had his
old white mare, which he kept for his
own use ,harnessed into the sleigh and
drove her to the village, and saw the
old lawyer, who had been his friend
for more than half a century, and
told him his errand, and in spite of
his endeavors to the contrary, he had
title deed drawn up conveying all
the property to his son, Thomas Har-
rison, on condition of supporting him
comfortably for the remainder of his
life. The lawyer had urged him to
make provisions for the use Of horse
and the occupancy of his bedroom,
which was the largest in the house,
with the open fireplace to be supplied
with fuel, and a lamp for his own
special use; and also a clause that
he should receive what visitors he
pleased to invite to the farm Squire
Bacon was better versed in the in
tricacies Of the human heart than Mr..
Harrison, for he had dealt with men
for over 60 years, while the lat
ter had wrestled with the forests
and the fields and the cattle in the
stalls, and knew not that unless he
held the balance of power he might
be forced to yield up his possessions
against his inclinations. But Mr..
Harrison would not change his deter
mination to relinquish all his belong
ings to his son, with only a general
condition of maintenance for life.
When the deed was prepared Mr..
Bacon said:
''Mr. Harrison, am very busy to-
day; suppose you carry home this
deed and read it to your son, and tell
him what your wants will be, and
have him and his wife agree to sup
ply them, and then come in some day
with Mr.. Craig, the merchant, to wit
ness your signature with me?'
Cant finish it all to-day, squire?
asked Mr.. Harrison. ''Now / lotted
upon carrying it home to Tom as a
New Years present. But if you can't,
you can't, that's all So good-day to
you," and he left the office.
And Mr.. Bacon laughed in his
sleeve at the ruse he had played upon
the old man, trusting that before he
came to the village again he might
know little more of human nature,
as regards the balance of power, and
would be willing to take his advice
upon the subject.
Mr.. Harrison's old mare trotted
home slowly, the lines lying upon her
back as she pulled the sleigh up the
long hills that lay between the "Hill-
side Farm" and the village, while he
sang triumphantly the hymn com
mencing WITH
Joy to the world the Lord has come,''
to the glorious old tune Of Corona
tion," and was very happy in the
thought of making others happy.
AT tea-time he produced the deed |
and showed it to his son and his sons |
wife, and told them its contents.
''But it is not signed" said Thom-
as.
NO." replied his father, "the
squire hadn't time to get another wit
ness and L am going down in a few
days to have it executed all right, YOU
know. He wanted me to have in it
that l shall alters have the old mare,
or another as good, for my use; and
| should have my bedroom and the
open fireplace, and my own lamp,
and YOUR sister and the others could